Director of Finance: Maureen Maguire

Maureen became a Soroptimist in 1989 when she was invited to join Soroptimist International of Portadown. Portadown - 'the Hub of the North' as it used to be called is a small town in County Armagh, Northern Ireland.

Maureen's career has spanned many areas in health management within the Northern Ireland Health Service. Since 2002, Maureen has been employed by the Eastern Health and Social Services Board, initially as the Manager for the South and East Belfast Health and Social Care Group, a Committee of the Eastern Health and Social Services Board. In 2006, the HSCG was 'stood down' and Maureen now undertakes a role as Pandemic Flu Planning and Development Senior Manager. Her main responsibility is to ensure that primary care practitioners are prepared in the event of a pandemic flu outbreak. She has also taken responsibility for the introduction, commissioning and development of the Condition Management Programme, which is part of Government's 'Pathway to Work' programme. This programme seeks to educate and support people who are on incapacity benefit in managing their condition, by assisting them to prepare for return to work.

Maureen was very honoured to her Club's President during the Club's 50th and 60th anniversary years and has also held other offices such as Club Secretary, Programme Action Officer, Membership and Extension Officer and Club representative to the Northern Ireland Regional Council. In 1998, she took office as the Regional President for Northern Ireland and was elected as Councillor for Northern Ireland in 2002. During her time as Councillor, she served one year on the Technical and Advisory Committee and three years on the Finance Committee.

Maureen thoroughly enjoys being a Soroptimist, she speaks of the 'joy and friendship' from meeting women from all walks of life, the opportunity to be an advocate for and provide support and help to others who are less fortunate than herself and this keeps her continually enthused and energised.

During 2007-08, Maureen and the members of the Finance Committee will be looking at a range of issues with regard to finance, however their overall priority will be to maintain and improve income while ensuring that expenditure is prudently managed and that the Federation remains within budget.